Bicycle-saddle



(No Model.)

- C.,F,LEPEVER.

BIGYGLBSA'D'DLE,

IN0.,5'71,3)79. Patent ed Nov. 17,1896.

' ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OF I E,

CHARLES F. LEFEVER, Oi -SYRACUSE, NEWV YORK.

BICYCLE-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 57l,3'79,'datedNovember 17, 1896.

Application filed October 28, 1895. Serial No. 567,104. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GHAnLEs F. LEFEVER, of Syracuse, in the county ofOnondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Bicycle-Saddles, of which the following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of this invention is toprovide a bicycle-saddle which shallpossess the desired elasticity without liability of throwing the riderforcibly forward from the saddle in case the bicycle meets withobstructions while propelled under a high speed, and which shall alsohave its pommel or front end yielding to undue downward pressure-andthus guard against injury to the rider; and to that end the inventionconsists in the novel construction of the saddletree and its connectionwith the seat, as hereinafter fully described, and set forth in theclaims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a bicycle-saddleembodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical longitudinal sectionsshowing the saddle, respectively, in its normal and strained condition;and Fig. 4 is a detached plan View of the articulated front end portionof the saddletree.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

(t represents the main support of the saddle, which is fastened to thebicycle-frame by means of a clip C or other suitable'means. Said supportconstitutes the longitudinal central portion or member of the saddletreeand consists of a suitable metallic tube, which is inverted-arch shaped.In opposite ends of said tube slide longitudinally the end members b andb of the saddletree, which members extend from the end plates 0 and c,to which the seat d, of leather or other suitable material, is fastened.

The rear end member Z) is rigidly secured to the rear plate a, and itsfree end portion is shaped to correspond to the interior of the tubularcentral member a, in which it slides longitudinally. The other endmember I) is formed at one end to correspond to the interior of theadjacent portion of the tubular central member a, in which it slideslongitudinally. The opposite end of said end member is inserted in asocket f in the front plate I '0, so as to allow it to rock verticallyin said socket. Said member I) is formed with a joint 9, which allowsthe front end portion of said member to be deflected downward. Ashoulder h at the joint limits the upward movement of said front endportion. The tension of the seat (1 draws the front end of the member Z7upward and sustains the same in its normal position.

Inside of the tubular central member ct of the saddletree are two spiralsprings e c, betweenthe inner ends of which is interposed an abutment'6, which is rigidly secured to the said member. The outer ends of saidsprings abut againstthe inner ends of the end n1en1- bers b and I), asillustrated in Fig. 3 drawings.

In order to allow the saddle to be deprived of its elasticity whendesired, I provide suitable adjustable locking devices, such as pins l,adapted to be inserted in perforations Zin the rigid central member aand inclosed portions of the end members I) l).

One of the great advantages of my improved bicycle-saddle consists inthe flexibility of the saddletree and of the leather seat, which issupported only at its ends on the saddletree and stretched from end toend. bility of the tree is due to the cylindrical shape of the tubularcentral member a and corresponding cylindrical end portions of the endmembers b b, which slide in said tubular member and are allowed to turna limited degree therein, said movement being limited by the slightlongitudinal curvatures of said members.

The aforesaid flexibility of the saddle and saddletree allows the seat(1 to sway or rock laterally and thus yield to the movement of of thethe body of the rider, and consequently render the seat morecomfortable.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A bicycle-saddletree formed of twoend plates, arms extending from said plates part way toward the centerof the tree, a rigid lon- IOO ward the center of the tree, a rigidlongitudinal supporting tube constituting the central portion of thetree, and springs in said tube abutting against the ends of the arms asset forth.

8. A bicycle-saddletree composed of a rigid tubular central supportingmember,end members sliding in said tubular member, springs sustained inthe tubular member and abutting against the inclosed end members and anabutment interposed between the inner ends of the springs as set forth.I I p 4. A bicycle-saddletree composed of a rigid tubular centralsupporting member, seat-supporting plates under the ends of the seat, alongitudinal inverted-arch-shaped tube under the central portion of theseat and constituting the main support of the saddle, correspondingly-curved arms extending-from the aforesaid plates and sliding in thesegmental tube, springs in said tube abutting against the ends of thearms, and an abutment interposed between the inner ends of the springsas set forth.

p 5. A bicycle-saddle consisting of a longitudi'nal inVerted-arch-shapedsupporting-tube under the central portion of the saddle, seatsupportin'gplates under the ends of the seat, an arm rigidly attached to the rearplate and sliding with its free end in the aforesaid tube, an armextending from the front plate into the aforesaid tube and provided witha down- Venting longitudinal movement of said end members as set forth.I

'7. The combinationof the saddletree composed of a rigid tubularc'entral member "of inverted-arch shape, end members having arms slidingin said central member, springs Within the central member abuttingagainst the end members, and a leather seat supported on said endmembers and stretched between said supports. 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 26th day ofOctober, 1895.

CHARLES r. LEF'EVER. [n s.] Witnesses:

J. J. LAASS, M. A. LEYDEN.

